RHYL FC manager John Hulse has often said how much the brilliant Lilywhites supporters inspire him and his team - but on Saturday at Llandyrnog it was the other way around.

An interval team talk from Hulse and his assistant Neil Young at Cae Nant provided the motivation for Rhyl Fans to turn around a 1-0 deficit in the NFS Challenge Cup Final and beat Liverpool Fans with a superb second half display.

Within five minutes of the restart the Welsh side were 2-1 in front and they added a decisive third before the Reds claimed a late consolation. "It was great John came to watch the game and it really inspired the players after he went into their dressing room at half-time," said Rhyl FC director Nefyn Luke, whose son Matty was a member of the triumphant Lilywhites side.

Having knocked Accrington Stanley and Southport out on their way to Saturday's final Rhyl came up against a formidable Liverpool outfit.

Playing well down the slope in the first half, the Lilywhites piled on the pressure, but the Merseysiders somehow survived and against the run of play snatched the lead through Dave Lewis.

Revitalised by Hulse's pep-talk, the North Walians were level just two minutes after the restart when Alec Williams beat two defenders and threaded the ball through to Matty Luke who volleyed in from 18 yards.

In no time at all Rhyl had taken the lead. Jason Randa drove a free-kick into the box and the ball came to Dave Howard who lobbed home to make it 2-1.

A father-son combination provided Rhyl's third. Jamie Howard fed the ball into the area and his dad Dave nipped in to fire in his second.

Liverpool sides are never beaten of course and they claimed one back through an un-fortunate own goal by Anthony Jones, who otherwise had a great game and was voted man of the match.

The final whistle blew on a momentous victory for a Rhyl side which has picked up silverware in its first season in the Northern Premier Fans League.